Townland of Ballymacilcurr

The townland of Ballymacilcurr which is located in the Parish of Maghera in the Barony of Loughinsholin was part of the Vintners’ Estate. The Estate was purchased by the William Conolly in 1729. See map of townlands on the Bellaghy estate. The estate lay within the Parishes of Killelagh, Maghera, Tamlaght O’Crilly, Ballyscullion, Termoneeeny, Kilcronaghan and Desertmartin. As you can see from the map, all of the Vintners' townlands were not contiguous. They were separated in places by Churchlands belonging to the Established Church and Crown Freeholds granted by the Mercers’ and Vintners' Companies to substantial individuals. I chose this townland, as an example because of the fact that there were considerable Estate Papers from the Conolly Estate covering the period before the 1831 "Census".The estate lay within the Parishes of Killelagh, Maghera, Tamlaght O’Crilly, Ballyscullion, Termoneeeny, Kilcronaghan and Desertmartin. They were separated in places by Churchlands belonging to the Established Church and Crown Freeholds granted by the Mercers’ and Vintners' Companies to substantial individuals. I chose this townland, as an example because of the fact that there were considerable Estate Papers from the Conolly Estate covering the period before the 1831 "Census".

1831 "Census Returns" - Copies of pages 42 & 43 - Excel Database - same Database in PDF format.

1831 Townland Valuation - See copies of pages 17, 18 & 19. you will find a list of houses but only seven names are given for seven houses..

1828 Tithe Applotment Book - See a copy of the Ballymacilcurr Tithe Page [I have added English acres, in pencil, above the Irish acres.] You should be able to match up many of the names in those document with the names in the 1831 "Census Returns". Unfortunately there are no maps accompanying the Tithe Books and you will notice that are only eight names recorded in the Tithe Book and we know that there were 45 "families" living in 45 houses in the townland - more on the houses later.

The reason why there are only eight names is because of the way the properties were leased from the landlord. The four leases were given by William Conolly [Speaker of the Irish House of Commons]. Conolly bought the Estate from the Vintners' Company. He died during 1729 and the purchase of the estate was completed by his nephew, also a William Conolly. Because £10,000 of the £15,000 purchase money for the estate was due by 1734, William Conolly granted many perpetuities on the estate at that time. Perpetuity leases were also known as three lives, renewable for ever leases. Initially when a lease was taken out three lives were inserted. These were often the children of some of the lessees. A fine usually equal to half of the annual rent was paid on each life. Thereafter new lives could be inserted, for ever, to replace each life as it expired. Again, a fine of half the rent had to be paid for each new life. Because perpetuities included initial fines that were reasonably substantial this was a quick way of raising cash quickly. Also, tenants holding perpetuities were regarded as freeholders and freeholders could vote.

The location of the four leases given in Ballymacilcurr are shown in the"rough" map below. Note how they can still be identified in the 1859 Griffiith's Valuation Map on the left. The survival of a Lease Book [PRONI: D1062/1/5] gives details of these 1734 leases and the changes that took place during the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.  Below you will see extracts from the lease book that list not only the lessees in the townland at different times throughout the eighteenth century but also the names of the various new lives inserted during this period. A final point to remember - not all leaseholders lived in Ballymacilcurr - Jacob McCracken of Inisconagher in the Parish of Bovevagh bought into Clarke's lease in 1801 and Dorrington Boyle [who lived in Ballymacallion in the Parish of Dungiven] bought into the same lease in 1818. Jacob McCracken was not listed in the 1831 "Census Returns"in Inisconagher. There was a Dorrington Boyle listed in the 1831 "Census Returns" in Ballymacallion in 1831. Was the Dorrington Boyle listed in Griffith's in 1859 actually living in Ballymacilcurr? Note also the cottiers renting their houses from the main lease holders who in turn rented their land from the Connolly Estate now [through marriage] in the hands of the Earl of Strafford, Robert Bateson, et. al. This pattern of landholding in perpetuity can also be seen in the adjoining townlands of Curragh, Slaghtybogy and Ballynacross.